This book introduces a few important Maritime Educational concepts to students age 11-12 and older. Composed of a brief text and hand-made colorful illustrations, it tells the story of a Surfing apprentice who enters a special learning program that emphasizes environmental taming prior to surfboard manipulation. The story works as a propitious background for evoking certain reflections over the actions one is supposed to perform in order to properly behave on the beach with regard to the main surf hazards. FOREWORD EXCERPT: "This is the first book I've come across that specifically seeks to introduce Surfing to a younger age group (...) More importantly, Bruno Castello da Costa's book presents Surfing, almost entirely, with respects to the practicalities of both, the joys and coming to terms with the potential risks, of being in the sea" (Dr. NICHOLAS FORD, UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH, UK).
About the Author: "I was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1979. Son to an industrial engineer, grandson to a military engineer, I graduated from Industrial Engineering at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in 2002, and from Physical Education at the Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ) in 2005. I picked up surfing in the late 1980's, early 1990's, and have since developed great respect for the Maritime Divisions of the Rio de Janeiro State Military Fire Brigade (CBMERJ). Between the years of 2005 and 2010, I was involved in a research about the Pedagogy (teaching) of Surfing along with 3 of my very good colleagues from UERJ. Between 2010 and January 2013 I delved into publishing the results of our work, in the form of the books 'Oriented Consciousness Mastering in the Practice of Surfing' (2nd edition, 2013), 'Conscientização Orientada da Prática do Surfe' (2nd edition, 2013), and the e-book 'Oriented Consciousness Mastering in the Practice of Surfing - Conscientização Orientada da Prática do Surfe' (Revised 1st edition, 2013). Due to an observable lack of awareness relative to the imminent hazards present on the beach on behalf of the population who is used to frequenting the coast of Rio de Janeiro - and also considering the fact that the practice of physical activities on most Rio de Janeiro beaches seems to focus more on the sportive performance than on the understanding of the potential impact of the forces of Nature over human safety -, more recently I've decided to write about Maritime Educational concepts that I judge to be important for beach goers in general and, specially, for children and teenagers to be able to read in school. In my opinion, these subjects deserve to be progressively included in the School Physical Education programs of the Brazilian schools and in every other country where beach activities are firmly established."